California Biographies
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176
NORMAN D. KELLEY, D. D. S. The family represented by Dr. Kelley of Fresno has been
identified with the history of California for a long period and he himself is a native of this
state, born at Watsonville. His father, Rev. D. O. Kelley, was born at Kelley Island in Lake Erie,
being a member of an old family of Ohio. Educated in the east, at the outbreak of the Civil
war he enlisted and served as lieutenant of a company belonging to the One Hundredth Ohio
Infantry. While participating in a campaign in the south he was captured by the enemy and con-
fined in Libby prison, where for fifteen months he endured all the hardships of that historic place.
When the war ended he returned to Ohio and from there via Panama came to California, where
he practiced law, studied and was ordained to the Episcopal ministry. His life has since been de-
voted to his denomination. In 1879 he came to Fresno and organized the first Episcopal parish
in this vicinity, also built the first house of worship used by the denomination here. For four-
teen years he remained rector of this congregation, greatly promoting its welfare by his skill-
ful leadership. With Fresno as his headquarters he organized congregations throughout the
San Joaquin valley and gave to them the encouragement of his practical and efficient assis-
tance. All of the churches of his denomination from the Tehachapi to Stockton were organized
under his direct supervision, and the denomination owes much to his ability as a missionary
preacher and organizer. Resigning his charge at Fresno in 1891, he returned to San Francisco as
a city missionary on the staff of Bishop Nichols, and still makes that city his home, where he is
as earnest in the work of the church as in more youthful years. For a long period he acted as
editor at San Francisco of the Pacific Churchman, devoted to the interests of his denomination on
the coast. From the standpoint of an editor, no less than as a missionary, his work was of per-
manent value to the church and promoted its welfare and progress. He is a Republican in
political views, and is a member of the Loyal Legion and Grand Army of the Republic.
After coming to California Rev. Mr. Kelley married Annie A. Fletcher, who was born in Bos-
ton, Mass., and at an early age accompanied her father, Stephen Fletcher, an Englishman, to the
Pacific coast. Settling in California, Mr. Fletcher remained a resident of San Francisco until
his death. In the Kelley family there are seven sons, of whom Norman D. was next to the oldest.
He was born August 8, 1877, and was two years of age when his parents removed to Fresno, where
his education was commenced in the public schools. After removing to San Francisco in
1891, he was a student in the schools of that city. In 1895 he matriculated in the College of Phy-
sicians & Surgeons, where he took the regular course of study and received the degree of D. D.
S. at his graduation in 1898. Immediately after completing his studies he opened an office in
Fresno, where he has since engaged in practice. His marriage was solemnized in San Francisco
and united him with Harriet P. Steinwand, who was born in Oakland and grew to womanhood
in Fresno. They have two children, Douglas Tracy and Harriet Elese. The family are iden-
tified with St. James Episcopal Church of Fresno. If Dr. Kelley has a hobby outside of his pro-
fession, it is his enthusiastic support of the work of the Sierra Club, with which he is associated.
It is his belief that mountain roads should be opened so that tourists may have an opportunity
of beholding the grandeur of the Sierra scenery, and be is a leader in the movement for the open-
ing of Kings river canyon. By frequent summer visits in the mountains he has been impressed
with the beauty of the scenery, which, if a safe and pleasant method of transit can be secured,
will undoubtedly draw thousands of visitors to enjoy its wonderful attractions.